In a bold display of resistance, two masquerades led a group of youths in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, to protest against what they described as unfair electricity billing.
The protest, which took place on Friday, was sparked by the sudden move of the community’s electricity billing from Band C to Band A, resulting in exorbitant charges for March 2025.
The protesters gathered at Bareke Roundabout in Omu-Aran, holding placards with various messages such as ‘Omu-Aran Says No to Band A’, ‘Bring Us Back to Band C’, and ‘Omu-Aran Youths Have Spoken Loudly’.
The youths, who danced and sang protest songs, expressed their dissatisfaction with the sharp increase in their electricity bills, which had risen from the previous rate of between N10,000 and N15,000 to between N41,000 and N47,000.
The protesters argued that the increase in the electricity charges came at a time when many areas within the community were already facing consistent power supply issues.
They rejected the suggestion of being escorted by the police and other security forces, emphasizing that they would not be intimidated in their quest for fairness.
The protest saw the youths march through key areas of Omu-Aran, including the Olomu Market, Latinwo Market, and the Olomu Palace, before arriving at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) office located within the Omu-Aran City Complex.
The protesters also blocked major highways, including the Omu-Aran-Kabba and Omu-Aran-Otun-Ekiti roads, causing significant delays for motorists and travelers.
In a statement issued during the protest, the President of the Omu-Aran Development Association, Niyi Adeyeye, outlined the group’s demands.
These included the replacement of faulty transformers, a return to the previous Band C billing, and a review of the current charges to reflect the old rates.
They also called for a review of IBEDC’s service delivery in the area, halting overdraft purchases for pre-paid meters, and ending the practice of consumers buying materials for faulty electrical equipment.
The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, received the protesters at his palace, urging them to remain calm.
He assured the crowd that community leaders were already in discussions with IBEDC officials to address the issues and find a resolution to the ongoing concerns.